Where it began
With North Alabama roots stretching back over 200 years, Joe Cloud’s heritage is as much a part of the landscape as the mountains and valleys in which he was raised...
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Joe's Daddy
Earl Cloud, Sr., was born in his home on Drake Avenue in Merrimac Village located in West Huntsville. He volunteered for service during World War II and was a tail gunner on B-29s, fighting in the Pacific. The G.I. Bil allowed him to pursue an education at the University of Alabama, where he earned a law degree. Mr. Earl practiced in North Alabama for over 50 years, and at the same time, served 30 years as Chairman of the Building Committee for theiconic First Baptist Church on Governors Drive.
Joe's Momma,
Marjorie Brooks Cloud has an equally inspiring story. Growing up on a farm in Meridianville, during the 1920s and 30s, she was the eldest of five children. After her mother's sudden death, when she was just 12,
she and her 10-year-old sister assumed the responsibilities of cooking, sewing, cleaning, and helping on the farm, all while attending school. Marjorie’s 4-year-old brother sat in the floor and played next to her during school.
Remarkably, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of North Alabama.
Marjorie and Earl married immediately before he left for
WW II in 1943. Together, they raised three children in North Alabama, instilling values of hard work, determination, compassion, and commitment to service.
